DEPARTMENT
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL
OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
POLI 448: ISSUES IN
AFRICA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COURSE SYLLABUS
SECOND SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR
Name of Course Instructor: Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar.
Office Location: Room #14
Department of Political Science.
Office Hours: Monday 12
nnon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm/by appointment via email.
Course Credits: 3
Lecture schedule and venue:
Main Campus: Mondays,
3:30pm-05:20pm/JQB 14
City Campus: Tuesdays,
2:10pm-4:10pm/NB2,3A.
Course Overview
The
patterns of Africa’s interaction with the
rest of the world is unique. Its
peoples have had to contend with acute internal
and external pressures which have stretched
and shaped
the continent’s systems overtime. While some of the pressures have undermined state
institutions and thus retarded their capacity to underpin human flourishing, others have served as a
source of institutional innovations resilience
and creative adjustment. Ordinarily, if the normal
narrative of African fragility were anything to go by, one would have expected
the continent to have been reduced to state of anarchy. The fact that this has
not happened calls for a deeper and nuanced interrogation of the sources,
nature and dynamics of the balance of forces the
continent has had to contend with. By and large, however, the continent’s
peoples and institutions are yet to master the management
of the external pressures and by extension their impact on human
security. This course is meant to stimulate critical reflection and discussion
of Africa’s pattern of interaction with external systems and in the process
trigger bold and imaginative ideas about how disruptive pressures can be attenuated
and eliminated at best and in the process enhance as well as amplify the harnessing of beneficial pressures.
Objectives
Against the background of the
overview, participants will be
equipped with theoretical frameworks with which
to sort out the complex dynamics of Africa’s international relations into
simple easy to discern patterns. This will facilitate the comprehension and the impact of a
select range
of issues that define Africa’s external interactions and dictate internal dynamics. The result of this exercise will be the stimulation of critical thinking
and interest beyond the popular perception of Africa as backward and vulnerable
in international affairs.
Learning
Outcomes
At the end of this course participants will
·
Understand, explain and apply the theories of geo-politics,
geo-economics and meta-geopolitics in
the study of Africa’s international relations.
·
Critically apply theories to empirical cases.
·
Evaluate research material in a critical way and
develop research projects.
Course
Delivery
It is mandatory for students to
attend all lecture and tutorial sessions. Students, in addition to this, are required
to thoroughly read all recommended texts and also to actively participate in
discussions.
Plagiarism
policy
Plagiarism is is defined under subsection 41(1) (d) of the Statutes of the
University of Ghana, 2012 as to present an idea or work of another without credit of authorship. It can also mean the reuse of one’s own work without suitable acknowledgement. This
is referred to as self plagiarism, text recycling or salami publishing. Such activities constitute academic fraud or theft
and thus a breach of ethical,
pedagogical and legal norms.
Plagiarism in any form is offensive
and shall therefore will be treated
as a serious wrongdoing. Appropriate sanctions, as stipulated in the Plagiarism
Policy of the University of Ghana, will be
applied when any student is found to have violated the policy. Please follow the
link http://www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines for further information.
Civility
Decorum during lectures is always expected of all students. Anyone who
disrupts class to the extent that other’s educational
opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must
always be turned off during lecture sessions.
Students
with Special Needs
Students with special needs should
register with the Office of Students with Special Needs, located in the
University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) building, next to the Student
Financial Aid Office; Tel:
+233-24-457-5177; E-mail: ossnug@gmail.com .
Please contact me as soon as possible so that appropriate
accommodation can be arranged for to be empowered
during lecture sessions.
Assessments and Grading
Two assessment exercises as indicated below will be administered in this course:
• Two interim assessment exams [15%
each]
• Final exam [70%]
Interim Assessment Questions
1. Review the
utility of Pan-Africanism in Africa’s international affairs. [Due in week 5]
·
Chigozie, N. P. (2018). The Influence of Pan
Africanism on Africa’s International Relations, 1945–1965.
·
Chipaike, R., & Knowledge, M. H. (2018). The
question of African agency in international relations. Cogent Social Sciences, 4(1), 1-16.
·
Ferim, V. B. (2017). Reassessing the Relevance of
the Pan-African Discourse in Contemporary International Relations. Theoria, 64(153), 85-100.
2. “Tax havens and Africa’s foreign aid dependence
are two sides of a coin” Discuss
Recommended readings [ Due in week 9]
·
Christensen, J. (2009).
Africa’s Bane: Tax Havens, Capital Flight and the Corruption Interface. Elcano
Newsletter, (52), 24.
·
Fjeldstad, O. H., &
Heggstad, K. K. (2014). Capital flight from Africa-with a little help from the
banks. Available at https://www.cmi.no/publications/file/4920-capital-flight-from-africa-with-a-little-help-from.pdf
·
Ndikumana, L. (2014).
Capital flight and tax havens: impact on investment and growth in Africa. Revue
d'économie du développement, 22(HS02), 99-124.
Grading
Scale
Please refer to the relevant section of the University’s
undergraduate handbook
Disclaimer
I reserve the right to change any reading, dates and requirements
listed in this syllabus. If this occurs, every
effort will be made to announce the changes well in advance. You are however responsible for the
adjustments that any such announcement will require.
Lecture
schedule and recommended reading list
Week
1: The Prelude: The Dawn of the Westphalia State in
Africa and the Current Situation.
Recommended
Texts
·
Shih-tsung , W. (2018, Febuary 5). The Conference of
Berlin. Retrieved from http://140.112.142.79/publish/pdfs/22/22_08.pdf
Geo-politics, Geo-economics and Meta-geopolitics
Recommended Texts
·
Ágnes, B. (2008, Febuary 5). Geopolitics and/or
Geoeconomics: Geopolitics in the 21st Century. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279536768_Geopolitics_and
·
Al-Rodhan, N. (2009, May 5).
Multi-Sum Security: Five Distinct Dimensions. Retrieved from ETH-Zurich:
·
AL-Rodhan, N. (2011).
Sustainable Global Security. In F. Gere, & M. Sharpe, Global Security: A
Vision for the Future (pp. 3-7). Geneva: IOS Press.
·
Baru, S. (2012).
Geo-economics and Strategy. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, 47-58
·
Sloan, G., & Gray, C. S.
(2008). Why Geopolitics? The Journal of Strategic Studies, 1-11.
Recommended texts
·
Ayferam, G. (2016). The
Advent of Competing Foreign Powers in the Geo-strategic Horn of Africa
·
Analysis of Opportunity and
Security Risk for Ethiopia. International Relations and Diplomacy,787-800.
·
Deen, E. S. (2013). AFRICOM:
Protecting US Interests Disguised as Military Partnerships in Africa. Doha: Aljazeera
Center for Studies.
·
Enuka, C. (2011). China’s
Military Presence in Africa: Implications for Africa’s Wobbling Peace. Journal
of Asia pacific Studies, 97-117.
·
Horgby, S. (2016).
EURAFRICAN Geo-politics? A Qualitative Textual Analysis of the French Geopolitical
Construction of Africa in the Post-Cold War Period. Berlin: STATSVETENSKAPLIGA.
·
Korybko, A. (2016, November
3). Hybrid Wars: Strategies Against Africa. Retrieved from Oriental Review: https://orientalreview.org/2016/11/11/hybrid-wars-8-strategies-against-africa-1a/
·
Ploch, L. (2011). Africa
Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa.
Washington: Congressional Research Service.
·
Sun, D., & Zoubir, Y. H.
(2011). The Eagle’s Nest in the Horn of Africa: US Military Strategic
Deployment in Djibouti. 111-124.
·
Volman, D. (2009). China,
India, Russia, and the United States: The Scramble for African Oil and the
Militarization of the Continent. Uppsala: Nordiska Africa Institute.
·
Carmody, P. (2007).
Competing Hegemons? Chinese verus American Geo-Economic Strategies in Africa.
Political Geography, 504-524.
·
Carmody, P. (2007).
Competing Hegemons? Chinese verus American Geo-Economic Strategies in Africa.
Political Geography, 504-524.
·
Hansen, P., & Jonsson,
S. (2011). Bringing Africa as a 'Dowry to Europe': European Integration and the
Eurafrican Project, 1920-1960. Interventions: International Journal, 443-463.
·
Hansen, P., & Jonsson,
S. (2014). Another Colonialism: Africa in the History of European Integration.
Journal of Historical Sociology, 442-461.
·
Kimenyi, M. S., & Lewis,
Z. (2011). The BRICS and the new scramble for Africa. Retrieved from Brookings
Institution http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/files/BRICS%20v%20africa_economy_agi_kimenyi_lewis.pdf
·
Salami, M. (2014, September 3).
The EU's 'Eurafrica' roots. Retrieved from Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/09/eus-eurafrica-roots-colonialism--20149611334511463.html
·
Thrall, L. (2015). China's
Expanding Relations: Implications for US National Security. Santa Monica: RAND
Corporation.
·
Volman, D. (2009). China,
India, Russia, and the United States: The Scramble for African Oil and the
Militarization of the Continent. Uppsala: Nordiska Africa Institute.
·
Y. Lin , C. (2015, January
4). The Rise of Africa in the International: A U.S. Energy Perspective.
Retrieved from ETH-Zurich: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/45570/Rise_of_Africa.pdf
Week 5 to 11: The Meta-geopolitics of the Post-Cold
Global System and Africa.
Themes to be covered
include
1. Tax Havens.
2. Crypto currency and Cybercrime.
3. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and E-Waste.
4. The Anthropocene.
5. Extremist Violent Organizations/Religious militant movements.
6. Small Arms and Light Weapons trafficking.
7. Mercenaries.
8. Landgrab phenomenon.
Mandatory readings
·
Africa Center for Strategic
Studies. (2016). Africa's Active Militant Groups. Washington DC: Africa Center
for Strategic Studies.
·
Antwi-Boateng, O. (2017).
The Rise of Pan-Islamic Terrorism in Africa: A Global Security Challenge.
Politics and Policy, 253-284.
·
Baro, J., O’Mahony, A.,
Manheim, D., & Dion-Schwarz, C. (2015). National Security Implications for
Virtual
·
Bodulovic, G. (2005). Is the
European attitude to GM products suffocating African development? Functional
Plant Biology, 32(12), 1069-1075.
·
Bubna, S. M. (2010). The
Case for Mercenaries in Africa. Pretoria: IDSA.
·
Chelule, E. (2014).
Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons: Challenge to Development, Peace
and Security in Africa. OSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 80-87.
·
Christensen, J. (2009,
February 4). Africa’s Bane: Tax Havens, Capital Flight and Corruption
Interface. Retrieved from ETH-Zurich: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/95401/WP%201,%202009.pdf
·
Cilliers, J. (2015). Violent
Islamist extremism and terror in Africa. Pretoria: Institute for Security
Studies.
·
Cilliers, J., &
Cornwell, R. (1999). Mercenaries and the privatization of security in Africa.
African Security Review, 31-42.
·
Corporation.
·
Cryptocurrencies? Retrieved
from The RAND Blog: https://www.rand.org/blog/2017/04/areterrorists-using-cryptocurrencies.html
·
Currency: Examining the
Potential for Non-State Actor Deployment. Santa Monica.: RAND
·
Curtis, M. (2015). Honest
Accounts 2017: How the world profits from Africa’s wealth. Retrieved from
Global Justice Network: http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/resources/honest_accounts_2017_web_final.pdf
·
Douglas, I. (2000). Fighting
for diamonds –Private Military Companies in Sierra Leone. Pretoria: ISS.
·
Flores, R., Matsukawa, B.,
Alfred, L., & Sancho, D. (2016). Cybercrime in West Africa: Poised for an
Underground Market. London: Trend Micro and INTERPOL
·
Hoste, J. C., &
Vlassenroot, K. (2009). Climate Change and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa: The
Mother of all Problems? In U. Nations, Developing Countries facing Global
Warming: A Post-Kyoto Assessment (pp. 139-149). Brussels: Royal Academy for
Overseas Sciences.
·
Jean-Christophe Hoste, &
Koen Vlassenroot. (2009). Climate Change and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa:
The Mother of all Problems? In R. A. Sciences, Developing Countries facing
Global Warming: (pp.139-149). The Hague: United Nations.
·
Kachika, T. (2017). Land
grabbing in Africa: a review of the impacts and the possible policy responses.
Oxfam international.
·
Manheim, D., Johnston, P.
B., Baron, J., & Dion-Schwarz, C. (2017, April 5). Are Terrorists Using
·
Mataire, L. R. (2016, March
3). Private military companies: Threat to continental security. Retrieved from
The Southern Times: https://southernafrican.news/2016/03/14/private-military-companiesthreat-to-continental-security/
·
Moran, A. M., Mulugetta, Y.,
& Raleigh, C. (n.d.). Climate Change & Security in Africa: Clear Risks,
Nuanced Impacts. The Hague: Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change.
·
Nielsen, L. B. (2016).
Private Military Companies in Africa the case of STTEP in Nigeria. Journal of
World Development Studies, 1-15.
·
Østebø, T. (2012). Islamic
Militancy in Africa. Washington, D.C: Africa center for Strategic Studies.
·
Petric, B. (2011). The land
rush: Transnational strategies for land grabbing. Transcontinentales. Sociétés,
Idéologies, Système mondial, (10/11).
·
Selber, J., & Jobarteh,
K. (2002). From Enemy to Peace Maker: The Roel of Private Military Companies in
Africa. Medicine & Global Survival, 90-95.
·
United Nations. (2005).
Transnational Organized Crime in the West African Region. Vienna: United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
·
Vines, A. (2000). Gurkhas
and the private security business in Africa. Pretoria: ISS.
·
Ward, A. (2018, January 3).
Bitcoin and the Dark Web: The New Terrorist Threat? Retrieved from The Rand
Blog: https://www.rand.org/blog/2018/01/bitcoin-and-the-dark-web-the-new-terroristthreat.html
Week 13:
Fast-forward
2050: Mega Trend Dynamics in Africa’s International Relations/ Recap
Recommended text
·
Cilliers, J., Hughes, B.,
& Moyer, J. (2011). African Futures 2050: The Next Forty Years. Washington,
DC: Africa center for Strategic Studies.
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